Exhibitor



(No Model.)

H. T. VAN DBNBBRGH.

' BXHIBITQB.. No. 555,520. Patented Mar. 1.7, 1595.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. VAN DENBERGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,520, dated March 17, 1896.

Application iiled March 3, 1893. Serial No. 464,499. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY T. VAN DEN- BERGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ohicagoin the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exhibitors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to that class of artisuch manner as to reduce its area of occupancy and which when unfolded shall be selfsustaining without the use of any catches or locking devices for its folding'parts. Still further, to produce an exhibitor the covers of which can be readily locked securely and readily unlocked by a properly-authorized person.

The above objects, as also such others as may appear from the ensuing description, are attained by the devices shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an exhibitor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the front upper portion of the exhibitor, showing its locking mechanism.

In the said drawings, A designates the body portion of the cabinet, this body portion being of oblong rectangular form in plan view and each end thereof being of quadrilateral form. The upper margins of the end pieces of the body A are inclined downward and forward, so as to afford a corresponding inclination to the top of the cabinet, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. This body portion is shown as supported upon four legs or standards I3, which are disposed in two all of the others.

frames D, each of which is hinged at its rear f margin to the back of the body portion A, and each of which is movable independently of Each frame D forms the cover for one of a corresponding number of compartments O within the body portion A, and each of said frames is preferably provided with a panel d of transparent material.

It is to understood that one advantageous use of this cabinet (constructed as thus far described) is that of placing` gross lots of goods, suoli as millinery and the like, in the drawers E and placing samples of such goods in the compartments O, the samples being readily observable through the transparent panes of the covers D, but perfectly preserved from injury by dust or similar substances.

In order to protect the contents of the compartments C from surreptitious handling, I provide a locking mechanism which is so arranged that the frames D will ordinarily be securely locked in closed position, and at the same time which permits the frames to be ininstantly unlocked by a properly authorized or equipped person, so that one or more of the frames or covers D can be readily opened when access is desired to the contents of one or more of the compartments O. For this purpose I locate within the body portion A a rod J, which extends horizontally adjacent to the front wall of the casing, and which is so arranged as to be moved longitudinally in two directions. This rod is provided at proper intervals with upwardly-extending hooks j, which, when the rod is moved longitudinally in one direction-for example, to the rightenter staples d', one of which depends from the front part of each cover or frame D. By simply moving the rod .I longitudinally in the opposite direction the hooks j are withdrawn from the staples d and all of the covers D are unlocked, so that any one or several of them can be readily opened.

As a means for moving the rod J longitudinally, as above described, I provide a tubular hub K, which is arranged to be turned IOO axially in the front of the casin g A, and which extends through said casing-front. At its inner end the hub K carries an upwardly-extending arm kgwhich enters an opening formed in the adjacent part of the rod J. The front or outer end of the hub K is open, and within said hub, near said end thereof, is a bridgepiece 1. A key M, having a split or notched shank to embrace the bridge k, is to be inserted into the outer end of the hub K and the latter is thus to be turned axially in one or the opposite direction,accordin g to whether the covers D are to locked or unlocked. Obviously this arrangement for locking and unlocking the covers is not only very compact and convenient, but it is very secure, since the locking mechanism is wholly concealed from reach by unauthorized persons,and since none but those having authority will be provided with keys which will turn the hub K. In cases where laces, artificial flowers, and other valuable goods are placed in the compartments C these considerations are highly important.

I have also provided the cabinet above described with a shelf located above the top of the cabinet and so supported as to be readily folded downward and rearward out of the way when not in use, and at the same time supported in such manner as to be self-sustaining without the aid of catches or fastenings of any kind, the shelf being thus capable of being readily raised into position for use and of remaining in such position as long as desired, and then of being as readily folded back out of the way. At its rearedge the shelf G is hinged, as at g, to the upper edge of a supporting-piece F, and the latter is hinged at its lower edge, as at f, to the back of the casing A. It is to be observed that the hinges which connect the supporting-piece F to the back of 'the casing are so placed as to enable the supporting-piece to be swung rearward and downward, while the hinges which connect the shelf G to the supporting-piece F are so arranged as to enable the shelf to be moved upward and rearward. Consequently, when the shelf is in its operative position, it extends horizontally forward from the supporting-piece F, while the latter extends vertically upward, and the weight of the shelf serves to retain the supporting-piece in its vertical supporting position without the assistance of any catches, locks, or similar devices. The shelf G is further sustained in operative position by two or any desirable number of brackets II, each of which is pivoted to the front of the supporting-piece F so as to be turned outward or forward to support the shelf, and so,'also, as to be turned backward iiatly against the supportin g-piece when the shelf is to be folded back.

It will thus be seen from the above description that I have produced a cabinet which is compact and convenient in its construction, and also secure in its retention of the goods, and which is convenient to use and adapted for various purposes of exhibition, storage, and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A cabinet for exhibition, rbc., comprising a single body portion or casing containing a plurality of compartments and a plurality of drawers located directly below the compartments, a plurality of covers hinged to the top of the body portion and forming the top portion of the cabinet, and hinged to the rear of the casing, a projecting portion hinged to the rear upper edge of the casing, and a shelf located above the body portion and hinged at its rear edge to the upper edge of a supporting-shelf, which latter is in turn hinged at its lower edge to the back of the body portion, and a plurality of pivoted brackets carried by the front of the supporting-piece and serving to sustain the shelf in operative position; the shelf when in such position extending horizontally forward from the support, the latter when in supporting position extending vertically from the casing, the longitudinally-niovable locking-rod carrying a series of hooks, the tubular operating-hub having 'a bridgepiece, and the key for turning the hub, substantially as set forth.

HENRY T. VAN DENUERGII. lVit-nesses:

TODD MASON, V. HUGO. 

